2018 Tesla Model 3
Tesla is a car company unlike any other; doing business more like a tech startup than an automotive brand. That’s served them well for their high priced S sedan and X utility. But, things have not gone smoothly for the entry-level Model 3. Still, they are coming out of the factory in decent numbers now, so its high time to find out if it’s a must have gadget, or truly the car of tomorrow…today.
It’s fitting that Tesla chose Model 3 as the name for their entry-level EV, as they are looking to do for battery electric sedans what the BMW 3 Series has done for sport sedans, become the new benchmark for others to follow.
Other than lacking an upper grille slot, the compact Model 3 bares a strong resemblance to the larger Model S. Its slick front end leads to a very big windshield; where the arching roofline flows hatchback-like to a very short rear deck and tall back end.
Body panel fitment is not as great as what you’d find in the typical luxury car, let alone a Hyundai Elantra; but we hear improvements are being made as production continues to ramp up.
The interior is surprisingly pleasant; new era minimalism at its finest. Just a long linear dash with air vents, a steering wheel with two stalks, and a horizontal touch screen jutting out of that IP. No buttons, dials, knobs, to be found, save for some programmable scroll wheels on the steering wheel.
All info is displayed on that 15-inch center video panel, and there’s a wealth of it; however, it is fixed and cannot be tilted towards the driver, requiring you to take your eyes off the road a lot. Making things worse, there’s quite often a glare on the screen that keeps you from seeing it clearly.
All seating positions are rather comfortable; and both rear and front trunks offer plenty of space for storage.
On the road, the ride is well composed, with a solidly tight but not jarring ride. It indeed drives much like a European sport sedan.
Our test car came courtesy of local owner Bill Clarke, and the excellent driving experience is his favorite aspect of the car.
BILL CLARKE: “The Model 3 is a great vehicle as a driving vehicle; it feels tight, responsive, very powerful. The handling is similar to a BMW in my opinion; I like that nice, tight German feel to a car. The power is almost as much as the Model S that I had previously, so a nice quick responsive car.”
JOHN DAVIS: There is a somewhat noisy rear suspension, mostly noticeable because of the lack of engine noise. But, Bill’s right on; with an output of 271-horsepower the Model 3 is quite fast. A typical 0-60 run takes about 5.0-seconds.
There’s also lots of windshield to look through, giving you a wide angle view of all that lies ahead. And, with our car’s Premium Package, the full length glass roof means everyone on board can sight see.
This rear-driver also had the Long Range battery pack, which is the only one available right now. Tesla doesn’t provide exact specs, but it is rated in the neighborhood of 70-kWh. Base 50-kWh models, as well as twin-motor all-wheel-drive versions, will be added into the production mix later this year.
There’s 310 miles of range with the bigger battery, so we’d go with that. Range for the base model is 220-miles.
Just as in its larger kin, the Model 3’s charging port is integrated into the driver’s side tail light cluster. Still cool, no matter how many times we see it.
We are definitely not sold however, on the no key aspect. We actually had an app snafu with our test car, and even the backup proximity card wouldn’t let us get the car started quickly.
The government gives the Model 3 MPGe Ratings of 136-City, 123-Highway, and 130-Combined. For a near perfect Energy Impact Score, responsible for just 2/10 of a barrel of oil use annually and zero CO2 emissions.
The $35,000 mass market Model 3 that garnered all of the original hype and down payments has yet to emerge. Only the bigger battery model is available right now. That means with other extras like the Premium Package and Auto Pilot, this “3” can easily top $50,000. So, it’s still mostly an early adopter proposition.
Still, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 is the best convergence of high technology and the practical automobile that we’ve yet seen. And, it does drive great! Yet, it remains to be seen if it truly is the game changing car of the future. But, one thing is for sure; it is here right now, and will be the populous EV benchmark for years to come.
30 Years of Clean Cities
The number of electric and hybrid vehicles on US roads has grown exponentially in just the past few years, and electrification is universally recognized as the auto industry’s power choice for the future. But advancing the use of clean fuels and technologies is hardly a new crusade.
The US Department of Energy’s clean cities program has been leading the charge for efficient transportation alternatives for the past three decades, and their successes have been victories for us all.
Clean Cities is a groundbreaking network of community-based coalitions, each tasked with encouraging the use of alternative fuels in their region. Starting with just 6 cities in 1993, Clean Cities has now grown to 75 coalitions with 20,000 active public and private stakeholder partners.
Clean Cities works with fleet managers, vehicle and fuel suppliers, local governments, and community organizations to develop solutions based on understanding local needs, opportunities and markets.
MARK BENTLEY: “Since 1993, Clean Cities organizations, like our Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, have created significant and positive change in the transportation sector by building public and private partnerships to reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum.”
From big corporations like Frito-Lay, Coca Cola and UPS leading by example on a national level, to local contractors, taxis and refuse haulers, each new clean fleet deployment has driven demand for alt fuel, as well as electric and hybrid vehicles, and helped to expand the national clean fueling and charging infrastructure to where it is today.
It’s a winning formula. And the results are impressive: 1.5 million new alternative fuel vehicles on the road, 5 billion gallons of imported petroleum eliminated through alt fuels, cleaner technologies, and smarter driving, and 67 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions prevented from entering the earth’s atmosphere.
JOY GARDNER: “I like to refer to the Clean Cities as a clean transportation matchmakers. We’re able to tap into this amazing national network of—our fellow coalitions, their stakeholders, the DOE, national labs; And we’re able to make these connections that have led to the millions of alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure deployments across the country.”
A commercial vehicle visits a natural gas station.
In 1997, only 6% of US transit buses used alternative fuels. Since then, that number has jumped to over 50%. But despite its tremendous growth, Clean Cities is still very much a grassroots operation at heart, celebrating one ribbon-cutting at a time, and relying on each other for much needed support.
MARK SMITH: “So, we’ve had some great things to be proud of over the past 30 years; but, now we have the next 30 years ahead of us, and we know that we’re in the transition to zero-emission vehicles, be that battery-electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles—and, we need to make sure that our Clean Cities coalitions have the tools and the expertise to help their stakeholders make that transition into the zero-emission vehicle, uh, era.
But, in the meantime, we have to make sure that those traditional alternative fuels that we’ve used to get where we’re at today—such as biofuels, propane, natural gas—that they will play a role as we help to make the transition.”
The idea of government empowering local citizens to be agents of change for the common good is an innovative approach that has exceeded all expectations. And if the past 30 years is any indication, clean cities coalitions will continue to show the way forward, for decades to come.
30 Years of Clean Cities
The number of electric and hybrid vehicles on US roads has grown exponentially in just the past few years, and electrification is universally recognized as the auto industry’s power choice for the future. But advancing the use of clean fuels and technologies is hardly a new crusade.
The US Department of Energy’s clean cities program has been leading the charge for efficient transportation alternatives for the past three decades, and their successes have been victories for us all.
Clean Cities is a groundbreaking network of community-based coalitions, each tasked with encouraging the use of alternative fuels in their region. Starting with just 6 cities in 1993, Clean Cities has now grown to 75 coalitions with 20,000 active public and private stakeholder partners.
Clean Cities works with fleet managers, vehicle and fuel suppliers, local governments, and community organizations to develop solutions based on understanding local needs, opportunities and markets.
MARK BENTLEY: “Since 1993, Clean Cities organizations, like our Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, have created significant and positive change in the transportation sector by building public and private partnerships to reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum.”
From big corporations like Frito-Lay, Coca Cola and UPS leading by example on a national level, to local contractors, taxis and refuse haulers, each new clean fleet deployment has driven demand for alt fuel, as well as electric and hybrid vehicles, and helped to expand the national clean fueling and charging infrastructure to where it is today.
It’s a winning formula. And the results are impressive: 1.5 million new alternative fuel vehicles on the road, 5 billion gallons of imported petroleum eliminated through alt fuels, cleaner technologies, and smarter driving, and 67 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions prevented from entering the earth’s atmosphere.
JOY GARDNER: “I like to refer to the Clean Cities as a clean transportation matchmakers. We’re able to tap into this amazing national network of—our fellow coalitions, their stakeholders, the DOE, national labs; And we’re able to make these connections that have led to the millions of alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure deployments across the country.”
A commercial vehicle visits a natural gas station.
In 1997, only 6% of US transit buses used alternative fuels. Since then, that number has jumped to over 50%. But despite its tremendous growth, Clean Cities is still very much a grassroots operation at heart, celebrating one ribbon-cutting at a time, and relying on each other for much needed support.
MARK SMITH: “So, we’ve had some great things to be proud of over the past 30 years; but, now we have the next 30 years ahead of us, and we know that we’re in the transition to zero-emission vehicles, be that battery-electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles—and, we need to make sure that our Clean Cities coalitions have the tools and the expertise to help their stakeholders make that transition into the zero-emission vehicle, uh, era.
But, in the meantime, we have to make sure that those traditional alternative fuels that we’ve used to get where we’re at today—such as biofuels, propane, natural gas—that they will play a role as we help to make the transition.”
The idea of government empowering local citizens to be agents of change for the common good is an innovative approach that has exceeded all expectations. And if the past 30 years is any indication, clean cities coalitions will continue to show the way forward, for decades to come.